The fifth annual Maryland Half Marathon to benefit the University of Maryland's Greenebaum Cancer Center is set for Saturday in Maple Lawn, Howard County. One inspirational young mom let 11 News know how important the center and its benefits are.

Amy Babst, 28, is the mother of two little girls named Kira and Khloe, and she's got another daughter on the way this summer. But when she was 38 weeks pregnant with Kira, she had trouble breathing, so her doctor sent her for a chest X-ray.

"They found out that I had what was the shape of a large coffee cup in my chest. It was a tumor connected to tumors in my neck and under each arm," she said. "It's very scary and traumatic, especially being at the end of my pregnancy and not knowing what was going to happen."

Twelve hours after delivering her baby, Babst underwent a biopsy that determined she had lymphoma. She went through chemotherapy and radiation and, five years later, was declared cancer-free. She credited her medical team at the Greenebaum Cancer Center.

"I actually feel like I have an extended family here now. My doctors and nurses here were amazing, and I really enjoy being able to give back to the hospital," Babst said.

One way she volunteers is by handing out medals at the annual half marathon to benefit the cancer center. Doctors said the funds help the patients in many ways.

"That ranges from everything from new treatments for prostate cancer, to understanding the basic mechanisms that cause cancer, to viruses that lead to certain cancers -- all with the goal for better understanding of cancers and providing better treatments for our patients," said Greenebaum Cancer Center Director Dr. Kevin Cullen.

Over the past four years, the race has raised more than $1 million. This year alone, organizers hope to bring in $500,000.

Babst said she hopes they reach that goal for herself and everyone else who has been touched by cancer.

"Everyone is affected by cancer. Everyone has a story. You know someone -- your neighbor, your sister, your mom -- with any type of cancer," she said.

The race begins at 8 a.m. Saturday. For more information on the race or to donate to the cancer center, click on the links above.